— study — 2026-07-24

Measuring Manipulation (Manipulation Range) is the precursor to price becoming an order block.

Criteria:

1. ▸

   Bias and Marco must be understood

2. ▸

   HTF and LTF PDAs and liquidity mapped

3. ▸

   Liquidity sweep

4. ▸

   At or near the liquidity sweep, you should find a candle with a huge wick in the direction of the liquidity sweep.

5a. If we are taking BSL, there should be a candle with a bullish wick formed at the bottom of that candle.

5b. If we are taking SSL, there should be a candle with a bearish wick formed at the top of that candle.)

6a. After the BSL is taken, wait for a vector to form 3-5 candles (preferably, because there may be an additional sweep created that may reset the process) that forms a high. Measure from the opening of this candle found in set 4 to the high created, this is your manipulation range.

6b. After the SSL is taken, wait for a vector to form 3-5 candles (preferably, because there may be an additional sweep created that may reset the process) that forms a low. Measure from the opening of this candle found in set 4 to the low created, this is your manipulation range.

7a. Bias & Marco are Bearish: Once price has confirmed the range, the High, Middle, and Low should be respected as the high and price is then only allowed to wick above to expand the range. Price should then violate the high by failing with a wick below the original high, violate the high then close back into the range remeasure the high. Price should trade below the mid point, then below the low. When price trades below the low it will need to impulse through the low and possibly print a -FVG. When said and done this will produce the following, +FVG, a High, price trading through the +FVG, inversion of this +FVG, price below it and possibly a -FVG. This then becomes a -OB and we can use this to take price lower to the next liquidity levels.

7b. Bias & Marco are Bullish: Once price has confirmed the range, the High, Middle, and Low should be respected as the low and price is then only allowed to wick below to expand the range. Price should then violate the low by failing with a wick below the original high, violate the low then close back into the range remeasure the low. Price should trade above the mid point, then above the high. When price trades above the high it will need to impulse through the high and possibly print a +FVG. When said and done this will produce the following, -FVG, a Low, price trading through the -FVG, inversion of this -FVG, price above it and possibly a +FVG. This then becomes a +OB and we can use this to take price higher to the next liquidity levels.

Notes: Once you find the opening candle of the beginning of the manipulation range, higher probability ranges should have an Order Block associated with the Liquidity Sweep.